“And I was not dead beat, or as heavy as a Dutchwoman in those days neither, miss,” laughed Miss Kingscote with her horse laugh. “Lud! no, it is the man or woman as is the jewel. I was called a spirity strapping lass by them as saw me then, and never knew I was a lady.”
Lady Bell had stared, had repressed an inclination to titter, had taken another view of the case, and given way, in spite of every effort, to a dreary girlish sense of self-abandonment, and of being inevitably swamped in this overflow of homely folly. What a companion after the great actress!
Lady Bell was fain to prick her ears at the sound of an approaching light firm footstep, and decently cultivated ringing voice.
“Are you there, Deb?” called the voice unceremoniously. “I suppose you han’t got your serving and talking commodity yet, as I don’t sight any traces of her. Deb, come out this minute, and look at my partridges.”
“Lawk-a-daisy, there’s brother from his shooting, and I’ve forgot to have a toast and tankard ready for him,” exclaimed Miss Kingscote, ambling out of the parlour.
CHAPTER XVII.
MASTER CHARLES.
There was a whispered colloquy outside the door, succeeded by the entrance of a frank, open-faced young fellow, looking very comely in his green coat, and yet retaining a comical likeness to Miss Kingscote.
The gentleman was coming up freely to Lady Bell, prepared to regard her as an acquisition, in the profits of which he was entitled to a share.
He was not going to address her with the formal “I have the honour,” or “Your servant,” but with a friendly jocular “Good morning to you, Miss Barlowe, now that you have come to hand. Don’t let my sister and you put out your bright eyes with fine stitching,” when he, too, was induced to reverse the usual order of greeting to a companion, though making his amendment on more intelligent principles than those which had influenced Miss Kingscote.
Instead of speaking at all, he gave Lady Bell an amazed confused bow in return for her perfectly calm curtsey, and turned aside muttering to himself, “By George, she is a highflyer, and no mistake, she must be a tragedy queen herself.”